Rumor: Survey gauges interest in pay-to-play 1 vs. 100 [update]

Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100 has a unique premise among console games. Rather than charge Xbox Live members for the ability to play, the "show" is supported by advertisements, which occasionally break up the gameplay. In some ways, it's a perk of being an Xbox Live Gold member, as Silver members are locked out of the virtual studio. That said, it looks like Microsoft might be reconsidering the strategy behind the game.

A Joystiq tipster sent us the image seen above, which was supposedly taken from a survey on MyThoughtCounts.com. The survey asks quite simply, "If 1 vs 100 were not available as part of your Gold Membership account, how likely would you be to purchase 1 vs 100 for $15 per season (13 weeks)?" If the survey is genuine, 1 vs. 100 might not be free after all. Is this what the Season Pass was all about?

We're not sure what would trigger such a change of heart: perhaps the prize model isn't as viable as Microsoft had hoped, or perhaps the number of viewers is lower than expected. Of course, it's only a survey, and it certainly isn't a confirmation that 1 vs. 100 will see any significant changes at all.

We've contacted Microsoft regarding the possibility and will update this post with any new info.

Update: We've heard back from Microsoft, which -- unsurprisingly -- didn't directly address the survey or potential pay-to-play model for XBL Silver members. You can read the full MS statement after the break."Xbox LIVE is pioneering an entirely new genre of entertainment and we're proud that we're delivering something that has never been done before. While we don't have anything to announce at this time, our Beta season has seen great success and 1 vs 100 is one of the top 10 most downloaded pieces of gaming content on Xbox LIVE to date. We're looking forward to where 1 vs 100 takes us down the road – stay tuned for more details!" -- Microsoft spokesperson